Preclinical evaluation in hamster model of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate AfriVac 2121 (Wuhan) produced under the WHO/MPP mRNA Technology Transfer Programme.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to vaccines in low- and middle-income countries was limited and delayed. To address these disparities, the mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, coordinated and led by the World Health Organization and the Medicines Patent Pool, was launched. A consortium has been set up in South Africa to develop a platform for manufacturing mRNA vaccines.

Further preclinical characterization of molnupiravir against SARS-CoV-2: Antiviral activity determinants and viral genome alteration patterns.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the need for broad-spectrum antiviral drugs to respond promptly to viral emergence. We conducted a preclinical study of molnupiravir (MOV) against SARS-CoV-2 to fully characterise its antiviral properties and mode of action. The antiviral activity of different concentrations of MOV was evaluated on human airway epithelium (HAE) and in a hamster model at three escalating doses (150, 300 and 400 mg/kg/day) according to three different regimens (preventive, pre-emptive and curative).

Broad-spectrum dengue virus detection using the commercial RealStar dengue RT-PCR kit 3.0 (Altona) and an in-house combined real-time RT-PCR assay.

In endemic areas, the genetic diversity among co-circulating dengue virus (DENV) strains is considerable and new, highly divergent strains are identified on a regular basis. It is thus critical to ensure that molecular diagnostic tools effectively detect virus genomes even in case of important genetic variation. Here, we tested both the pan-DENV detection capacity and the limit of detection of two real-time RT-PCR assays: (i) the commercial RealStar Altona 3.